Ethiopian army will leave Somalia by the end of this year. The announcement came on Friday by Somalia’s national security advisor.
Hussein Sheikh, Somalia’s National Security Advisory, said yesterday that by December 2024, all Ethiopian troops would withdraw from Somalia. Thousands of Ethiopian troops are operating in Somalia. The troops are part of ATMIS ( African Union Transition Mission In Somalia). Apart from ATMIS, the Ethiopian troops are operating under bilateral arrangement with Somalia’s Federal Members. In South West State, Gedo and Hirraan regions, Ethiopian troops are deployed under bilateral arrangement.
Somalia’s national security advisor added that after 2024, African troops from Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Djibouti would remain deployed for a year.
It remains to be seen if all Ethiopian troops would leave Somalia or not. In April, Somalia expelled Ethiopian ambassador and ordered the closure of Ethiopian consulates in Puntland and Somaliland. Both the consulates are still operating. Rather Ethiopia has upgraded its consulate in Hargeisa to full fledge embassy.
Ethiopia deployed its troops to Somalia to fight Al Shabaab in 2012. Al Shabaab is still in control of large parts in Somalia. Its fighters have been trying to enter Ethiopia too.
Ethiopia-Somalia tensions rose at the start of this year when Ethiopia signed a controversial MoU with Somaliland. Under the MoU, if implemented, Ethiopia would gain access to sea through Somaliland and establish a naval base there. In return Somaliland would get recognition from Ethiopia. For decades, Somaliland has been trying to get international recognition. Somaliland is internationally recognized part of Somalia.
While Somalia is vowing to stop the implementation of the MoU, which is still an MoU, Somaliland and Ethiopia are making progress to sign final agreement.
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